Tongan Language Week

Hey Bloggers! If you didn't know last week was Tongan Language Week! On Friday the school celebrated Tongan Language Week by getting some of our own school students to perform some Tongan Dances on the stage. 

Girls were wearing Tongan costumes such as mats, headpieces, and necklaces too. The boys were wearing necklaces and were also wearing mats and plastic skirts.

Everyone who was performing got called up to the stage and got into their positions. Firstly a couple of students had said some speeches in Tongan. Then everyone got into their spaces and the music started to play!

The girls hands started twirling and moving. Their head started to move and shake as their hands clapped. 

Then it was the boys turn. They had sticks and started dancing. 

Thanks For Reading!
By Mitchell.M
14/09/18

Mitchell - Visual Mihi 2018 ( 400th Blog Post )

Hey Bloggers! Here is my visual mihi I created for this year! It includes the cross to represent Jesus and Christianity, two pacific island flags to represent my culture, items that represent that I love travel and to also show I love family.

Thanks For Reading!

By Mitchell.M

22/02/18

p.s - click on picture to see more, 400th blog post!

Summer Learning Journey - Day #3 : It's All In A Family

Hey bloggers! Today is Day #3 of the Summer Learning Journey. I was really busy today so I'm posting it now! Let's Begin.

Activity 1 : The More, The Merrier?

My Family!

In the 1800's most families were pretty big. In fact, many parents had an average of seven to nine children. I have been asked to imagine that I was a family member of nine and I have been asked if I would like it and how would I feel. Well first of all I have a really big family loving cousins, protective uncles, caring great - grandparents and heaps more family, So I wouldn't mind. So yes, I would enjoy it. I love FAMILY!

Activity 2 : Acknowledging Ancestry

A Traditional Dance performed
by Native Lauans from Lakeba, Fiji

Now all of us are family members! Members of a big family or even a small family. In Te Reo Maori sometimes people use a way of Acknowledging Ancestry. I have been asked to write my own pepeha. It's included with my special mountains and rivers and islands that are important in my ancestry. Here it is!

Kia Ora!
Ko Lakeba,Fiji te Maunga 
Ko Lau, Fiji - channel te River
Ko Sema Makawa te Waka
Ko Niumataiwalu toku Tipuna
Ko Vuanirewa toku Iwi
Ko iTaukei toku Hapu
Ko Levuka,Lakeba toku Marae
Ko Viti & Tonga Ahau
Ko Winifereti raua Ko Fisilau oku Matua
Ko Mitieli ( Mitchell ) toku ingoa.
No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa. 

That is my pepeha! It's really important once you realise you have a lot of ancestry like me! I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Bonus Activity : Fun Family Facts

Image Attribution

On my blog I have been asked to interview three family members from my family and ask them what are their 2 favourite things to do in summer!

My Mum :

1. She likes to go swim at the pools and the beach!
2. She likes to go camping at camp sites!

My Sister ( Levonah ) :

1. She likes to go out to places such as : arcade, theme parks, city ( etc.
2.She loves to eat! Her favourite foods are Pancakes!

My Sister ( Leonora ) :

1. She likes to go Ice Skating!
2. And she likes going to the pools!


Thank you for reading today's blog post!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
20/12/17

P.S - 5 more day until Christmas!

Letter to the Tongan Rugby League Team!

Image Attribution

Hey bloggers! Today I'll be writing a letter to the Tongan Rugby League Team.

Mate Ma'a Tongan Rugby League Team 2017
Vaha'Akolo Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Royal Palace
 P.S - please send to the Rugby League Team

Dearest to whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter to you mainly because of the Rugby League game that occurred on the 25th of November 2017. I also did recently attend the game with my family and it was amazing. We supported the team with our flags, face paint, costumes and more. It was really heartbreaking to hear that Tonga did lose the game as the referee did not call it a try.

Image Attribution

I do believe Andrew Fifita did score the last try, as the other player from England did strip the ball,the ball dropped, he gripped on it with his hands again and scored the last try in the last few seconds of the game before it ended. We did not support this act as Matt Cechin (referee) did not call it a try.

I would also like to congratulate you for coming to the finals of the Rugby League World Cup as a pacific nation which represented our small islands well and we were very proud of your team. It was a really challenging game to watch and for the team to play. We may have not won but we still have hope for the next 4 years to come.

We believe we did win in our hearts and you did us, our people, our families and our islands proud, so people worldwide know that the Tongan Islands of the Pacific do exist. Also you were the last Pacific Nation to leave the Rugby League World Cup as Fiji was the 2nd in 3 years.

As I conclude this letter I would like to thank you for all the hard work, sportsmanship and effort you have put into these past games. Thank you for taking your time into reading this letter. Ofa Lahi Atu!

Your's Sincerly,

Mitchell

Mitchell's - Perspectives and Opinions

Hey bloggers! Here is my Perspectives and Opinions presentation I created this week. It's all about the reviving game " Tonga VS England ".

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
28/11/17

Mitchell's Speech - My culture is important

Good Morning! Here is my speech about why culture is important!

Reason 1: I think culture is important because it’s really important to remember your ancestry.

Culture! Have you ever wondered about your culture? I’m pretty sure you’ve been wondering about where you originate from right? Well you probably do know your Samoan,Tongan, Cook Island and Maori, but it’s time to think back. It’s pretty important to remember your heritage. Like what if you have royal blood, that’s something really important to cherish.

Did you ever wonder about where your great grandmother’s mother is from? They may be from Russia, Tahiti, or even Kenya! That’s meaning that you’re ancestors are from different places!

Reason 2: Another reason why culture is important is because your Family Tree and Ancestors may have different origins.

Did you know? - that your many of your ancestors have all came from different origins. For example let’s say your great,great,great,great,great grandmother from Tonga married your great, great, great, great, great grandfather from Germany! That may mean you have German traces in your DNA, if your grandparents have German DNA.

Reason 3: The last reason why you’re culture is important is because your language is important too.

If you’re fluent in your native language you have a very special talent! I think learning your native language is important because what if it dies out. Imagine one day the native language of your country has died out because people have forgotten or lost the traditional ways. It also represents your identity and culture and also your family!

Reason 4: My culture!

Finally let me tell you why my culture is important! My ethnicity conclude of Fijian and Tongan descent with some German. On my Fijian family I am a descendant of the Vuanirewa Dynasty that has ruled the Lauen Island since it first has been discovered so that is a big part of my culture! With my Tongan Family I am from the Islands of Ha’apai and from the Village of Pe’a on Tongatapu.

Thanks for reading!

By Mitchell.M

07/08/17